Chart Climbers: America’s New Love Affair With Irish Music

Maybe it’s a byproduct of the Boston Celtics’ current success, but music fans are falling in love with the Irish (again). Not since the folk-dancing hurricane known as Riverdance blew through the U.S. in the ’90s has Irish music been so strong. Leading the Irish movement right now is Celtic Thunder, a new vocal group that’s sweeping music charts. The group has the #1 album on the iTunes world music chart and landed in the top 5 of all album sales on Amazon last week.

Celtic Thunder’s rise follows the success of Celtic Woman last year. Also coming up: the High Kings, an Irish ballad group, who charted on Billboard last week.

With members ranging from ages 14 to 40, Celtic Thunder formed last year for a live performance in Dublin. Irish composer Phil Coulter, who’s penned hit songs in the U.K. for decades, directed the group. Celtic Thunder made its first public television appearances in the U.S. last month, including a spot on NBC’s “Today” for St. Patrick’s Day. Celtic Thunder’s songs are a hodgepodge, darting from traditional tunes like “Mountains of Mourne” and international hits like “Desperado.”

The rise in Irish music is largely the work of Sharon Browne, a producer who’s masterminded all three popular Irish groups. Ms. Browne convinced PBS to spearhead the Celtic Woman phenomenon in 2004 when the group had no previous stateside recognition. Now, she’s launching a small empire with all three groups touring the U.S. Celtic Thunder plans 50 performances starting in October through the end of the year.